Tag: CONNECT THE TESTAMENTS

  • RISK: OVERSOLD AND UNDERPLAYED

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 32:1-42; 1 Corinthians 14:26-15:11, Psalm 27:1-14 The fears of the psalmist are not our fears today, and the fact that they aren’t should bother us. The psalmist remarks, “Do not give me over to the desire of my enemies, because false witnesses have arisen against me, and each breathing out violence. Surely…

  • TONGUES, PROPHECY, AND THE THING WE CALL LOVE

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 31:1-54; 1 Corinthians 14:1-25; Pslam 26:1-12 Nearly anything good can become unproductive if it’s abused or misused. Paul is all about embracing the side of spirituality that can seem a bit wacky to us today—gifts of tongues and prophecy, to name a few. But he is fully aware of the problems that…

  • GRACE AND FAVOR

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 30:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13; Psalm 25:1-22 Usually when we seek someone’s goodwill, we emphasize our own winning traits or accomplishments. Our supervisor, significant other, or family members are barraged with a list of our actions in an attempt to get the other to respond in kind. Often this results in a tug-of-war…

  • THOUGHTLESS ICONOCLASM

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 29:1-40; 1 Corinthians 11:17-12:11; Psalm 24:1-10 When we learn something new about life and faith, it’s tempting to use our knowledge and freedom to tear down religious constructs and artifices—exposing truth in a way that’s not helpful or edifying. If we’re honest, pushing boundaries and living edgy and unfettered gives us a…

  • GREEN PASTURES: THEY REQUIRE ACTION

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 28:1-31; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16; Psalm 23 Love and complete reliance on God are interrelated concepts. When we discover what love really means, we want to praise God for it. When we learn to rely on God for all our needs, we see just how loving He is as He takes care of…

  • REASON: NOT THE ULTIMATE POWER

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 27:1-23; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Psalm 22:14-31 Reason is a gift from God, but that doesn’t make it a substitute for seeking God’s will through prayer. Moses appears to have been an intelligent man. He figured out how to flee Egypt after killing an Egyptian, how to survive in the wilderness, and how…

  • FORSAKEN TO DELIGHT

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 26:1-64; 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:27; Psalm 22:1-13 “My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning?” (Psa 22:1). These are some of the darkest words in Scripture. It’s almost painful to speak them, to imagine a feeling of complete…

  • SINS OF OMISSION

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 24-25; 1 Corinthians 1:17-40; Psalm 21:1-13 There’s that moment when you’re asked to do something you know is wrong, but you feel like you should respond. It’s almost as fleeting as the decision to not stand up for what is right, even when no one asks for your opinion. Many wrongdoings occur…

  • WE DON’T (REALLY) MEAN IT

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 23:1-30; 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:16; Psalm 20:1-9 “I’ll pray for you.” We say it often, but how many times do we actually remember to do it? Our biggest downfall might not be a lack of compassion—it’s probably just not taking time to write down the request and not having a model of praying…

  • A MERCIFUL SMACKDOWN

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 22:1-41; 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11; Psalm 19:1-14 Sometimes, we’d rather not be teachable. When it comes to taking advice from people in my church community, it’s easier to keep an emotional distance than it is to listen. If I tread lightly on their sin, maybe they’ll tread lightly on mine. If we keep…